POLITICS



Islam Karimov meets with EU foreign policy chief

At the Oqsaroy November 28, President Islam Karimov met with Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission.

The two sides reinforced shared willingness to continue to work together toward a more diversified mutual trade and more encouraging conditions, toward the European capital’s more extensive investment presence in Uzbekistan, and toward implementation of joint schemes cashing in the available resources and advanced technologies.

The parties stressed mutual interest in upholding direct contacts among public and nongovernmental institutions in cultural and humanitarian, academic and educational as well as other spheres. The meeting also served as a venue to discuss regional affairs and a range of individual issues pertinent to security and stability in Central Asia, including those related to developments in Afghanistan.

The EU’s top diplomat confirmed the willingness of the Union to build longer-run and mutually advantageous relations with Uzbekistan. (Source: Press service of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan)



Uzbekistan, Finland discuss issues of developing ties

Delegations of Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan and Finland held next round of political consultations in Helsinki on 22 November 2012.

During consultations, the sides considered current state and perspectives of Uzbek-Finnish dialogue, as well as international and regional issues of mutual interest.

The sides exchanged opinion on cooperation in culture, science, education and healthcare.



Meeting of Uzbek-Kazakh intergovernmental joint commission

Meeting of the joint commission on bilateral cooperation took place on November 29 at International Business Centre in Tashkent.

Uzbek-Kazakh economic relations develop, relying on several documents on trade-economic cooperation. In this regard, both countries treat each other as the most favorable trading partner. The volume of trade between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan have been increasing dynamically. In 2011, it increased by 47 percent and exceeded 2.7 bln US dollars. In January-October 2012, the figure was more than 2.2 billion US dollars.



ECONOMY



MPs approve program on creation of jobs

Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan approved a program on creating jobs and ensuring employment of population for 2013.

The program was developed by the Cabinet of Ministers and envisages creation 972,700 jobs in 2013. They will be created due to launch of new large industrial objects, reconstruction and expansion of existing capacities, stimulation of small and private businesses, development of family entrepreneurship and services, etc. The part of jobs will be created to development of craftsmanship in Namangan, Ferghana, Andijan, Samarkand and Bukhara regions.

The government also plans to reserve at least 100,000 jobs to vulnerable layers of population such as people with disabilities and other persons, who have problems with employment (Source: UzDaily.com)



Olmaliq Mining Plant’s Technology Ambitions

The Government of Uzbekistan has approved a feasibility study of the investment project \\\"Modernization of oxygen plant at the Olmaliq Plant\\\".

Uztyazhpromproekt Institute has developed a feasibility study to the volume of capital investments of US$26.2m, while the total cost of the project exceeds US$29m as the results of direct negotiations was awarded a contract between the Olmaliq MMP and Red Mountain Energy Corporation (USA) for development of working and technical documentation for the technological part of the project, supply of equipment, installation, supervision and execution of commissioning a total cost of US$19.8m.

Funding sources will combine its own funds in the amount of US$7.2m, the credit of the Fund for Reconstruction and Development of Uzbekistan in the amount of US$19m and refinanced through Ipoteka Bank for 7 years with a two year grace period. (Source: Uzbekistan Today newspaper)



Uzbekugol to invest US$90m to modernize mining equipment

Uzbekugol (Uzbek Coal) open joint stock company will direct US$90 million to modernization of mining and transportation till the end of 2014, RIA Novosti reported quoting the source in the Uzbek Government.

Within the project, it is planned to replace 70 units of equipment – trucks, mobile crushing facility, combines, loading machines and conveyors. The project will be financed due to own resources of Uzbekugol, Fund for Reconstruction and Development of Uzbekistan, and loans of Uzbek banks.

Uzbekistan plans to modernize coal industry and expand coal production from 2.28 million tonnes expected in 2012 to 17.2 million tonnes in 2021.

Mining of brown coal will grow by 3.9 times to 16.3 million tonnes by 2021, while mining of coal – 9 times to 900,000 tonnes. At the same time, share of coal in fuel-energy balance of Uzbekistan will jump from 3.9% to 12%.

Uzbekugol produces 98% of coal in Uzbekistan. It mines coal from Angren brown coal mine in Tashkent region with explored reserves of coal for 1.9 billion tonnes. Sharguncoal mines Baisun and Shargun coal fields in Surkhandarya regions. Its reserves make up 45.8 million tonnes of coal. (Source: UzDaily.com)



SOCIETY



Uzbek MFA helps 54 human trafficking victims to return home

About 90,000 citizens of Uzbekistan are registered at the consular establishments of Uzbekistan abroad, Jahon news agency reported quoting materials of Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan.

In nine months of 2012, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs received 1,080 applications on issues related to protection of rights and interests both in Uzbekistan and abroad. They were considered and corresponding measures were adopted to protect rights of citizens.

In Uzbekistan created legal base in protection of labour migrants, who work in Uzbekistan. But, still there are several citizens, who illegally leave Uzbekistan to earn money and sometimes they became victims of human trafficking.

Diplomatic missions and consular establishments of Uzbekistan work on assisting human trafficking victims and help them to return home safely.

In nine months of 2012, the diplomatic missions of Uzbekistan helped 54 citizens, who were victims of human trafficking, to return home.



CULTURE



Paolo Veronese’s “Pietà” presented in Uzbek capital

The State Art Museum of Uzbekistan presented a painting “Pietà” of famous Italian painter Paolo Veronese. The painting was recently found among collections of the museum.

Painter Dilshod Azizov, who carried out restoration works, said that painting “Pietà” was purchased by Prince Nikolay Romanov during his visit to Italy in 1871-1872. He added that Nikolay Romanov had written about his purchase in his diary.

In 1888, after his arrival to Tashkent, he built a palace in the center of Tashkent. He left all his paintings to Turkmenistan University. In 1920, the collection was transferred to the State Art Museum. A large work was done to restore the painting. (Source: UzDaily.com) EMBASSY EVENT Uzbek Ambassador visits IU

Ambassador of Uzbekistan to the United States Ilhom Nematov visited on November 26 THE Indiana University campus in Bloomington to review research about Uzbekistan, meet with students studying Uzbek and converse with faculty from the Department of Central Eurasian Studies. Ambassador Nematov also met with College of Arts and Sciences Dean Larry Singell and Vice President for International Affairs David Zaret to discuss opportunities between universities in Uzbekistan’s capital of Tashkent and IU.

He spoke during a cultural night program, which featured photo pictures from Uzbekistan, Uzbek cuisine and a video highlighting the country.

The visit marked the first time an Uzbek ambassador to the U.S. has visited Indiana.